Chelsea have scored a meager 20 goals in 17 Premier League games so far. Summer signings Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (nine games, one goal) and Raheem Sterling (15 games, four goals) have so far been lacking in punch. Homegrown Armando Broja was also unable to make a lasting impression before his cruciate ligament rupture (twelve games, one goal).
Reason enough for the Blues to step up offense. At the end of December, the Londoners brought David Datro Fofana on board from Molde FK for twelve million euros. With the loan of João Félix, the club around owner Todd Boehly has upgraded their attack again today. Chelsea are reportedly paying eleven million euros for the loan deal.
The fact that the current tenth in the Premier League has been strengthened with the 23-year-old Portuguese seems like a panic reaction at first. Because even the right foot has often played too inconsistently since moving to Atlético Madrid. In 131 games for the Rojiblancos in all competitions, the national player was directly involved in 52 goals (34 goals, 18 assists), but was unable to match his quota at Benfica Lisbon (43 games, 31 goals involved).
Why is Chelsea striking?
A great strength of Félix is its versatility. In Madrid, the filigree technician played as a hanging striker (83 games), center forward (30 games), left winger (nine games), right winger (seven games) and once as an attacking midfielder. The young Portuguese could cover several problem areas at once in the Blues.
Sterling (winger, hamstring injury), Christian Pulisic (winger, knee problems) and Broja (center forward, see above) are three players out of the London team through injury, and Félix could fill their positions. Although the Londoners wear the donating pants in summer and so far also in winter (spending of just over 355 million euros), it would have been difficult even for Chelsea to sign adequate replacements for all three professionals at short notice.
In addition, both Sterling and Pulisic have regular place ambitions. In addition, the path should not be blocked for up-and-coming talents like Broja. So in that sense, Chelsea’s temporary signing of Félix solves several problems at once.
Felix has to prove himself
For Félix himself, the Premier League offers another opportunity to prove he can put his stamp on the attacking game of a top club. At the age of 23, the Portuguese has slowly but surely outgrown the age of talent, so he has to show that he is really worth the 127 million euros he once paid in sport.
In any case, Coach Graham Potter is looking forward to his new signing: “It’s clear that João is a top player, a talented player and he can help the team.” And further: “I see a confident person, a confident player, a player who can make his mark on the game.”
“His personality and qualities are that he can take the ball in tight spaces, make the difference in the last third and be able to play passes. I think he complements what we have and I look forward to working with him.”the trainer explains with a view to his qualities.
This is how Chelsea could play with Félix
